The Jewellery Maker

"The Jewellery Maker" by Louisa Adjoa Parker

Context

The Jewellery Maker by Louisa Adjoa Parker is a reflective poem that portrays the life of a craftsman dedicated to his craft. The poem highlights the generational tradition of jewellery making, as well as the contrast between the intricate beauty of the jewellery he creates and the simplicity of his own life. Parker, a British poet of Ghanaian and English heritage, often explores themes of identity and culture in her work. In this poem, she emphasises the skill, patience, and artistry involved in the jewellery maker's daily routine.

The Poem

Each day after sunrise he walks to the workshop-

like his father before him, and his father too –

the slap of sandalled feet on heat-baked stone,

the smell of blossom, a plate-blue sky. He greets

his neighbours with a smile. In the distance

a wild dog barks.

He sits straight-backed, lays out pointed tools

the way a surgeon might – neat as soldiers.

He likes hot metal, the smell, the way it yields

to his touch. Under deft fingers gold butterflies dance;

flowers bloom; silvery moons wax and wane,

then wax again; bright dragonflies flap two pairs of wings.

He likes the tiny loops and curls – he'd decorate

his house in this, drape his wife in fine-spun gold;

her skin wrinkled by sun, in simple cotton dress,

her only jewellery a plain gold band, worn thin.

He imagines the women who will wear

what he has made, clear-eyed, bird-boned, unlined skin

warming the metal his hands caress.

5 Quotes + Analysis to Achieve a Grade 9

1. Simile: "He sits straight-backed, lays out pointed tools the way a surgeon might"

• Analysis: The comparison to a surgeon elevates the jewellery maker's craft to the level of a respected profession, highlighting his precision and skill. This simile reinforces the idea that the jewellery maker treats his work with the utmost care and attention, almost as if performing surgery.

2. Imagery: "Under deft fingers gold butterflies dance; flowers bloom; silvery moons wax and wane"

• Analysis: The imagery of butterflies, flowers, and moons emphasises the delicate, intricate nature of the jewellery maker's work. These creations are not merely functional but are imbued with beauty and life, symbolising the artistry and imagination behind each piece.

3. Contrast: "her only jewellery a plain gold band, worn thin"

• Analysis: The plain gold band contrasts with the elaborate, intricate jewellery the maker creates. This highlights the disparity between the simplicity of his life and the luxury of the items he crafts for others. It suggests that while his creations are extravagant, the jewellery maker himself lives a modest, humble life.

4. Imagination: "He imagines the women who will wear what he has made"

• Analysis: The jewellery maker's imagination allows him to connect with the women who will wear his creations. This line reveals his distant connection to the world of the jewellery's wearers, symbolising the separation between the creator and the consumer of art.

5. Symbolism: "gold butterflies dance"

• Analysis: Butterflies are symbolic of beauty, transformation, and fleetingness. By describing them as dancing in gold, the poem captures the transient beauty of the jewellery maker's creations. It also hints at the delicate balance between art and nature, as the jewellery maker brings these fragile creatures to life through his craft.

Form & Structure Points

• Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse, which allows the flow of the jewellery maker's routine and thoughts to unfold naturally. This lack of a fixed structure mirrors the organic, creative process of the jewellery maker himself.
• Single Stanza: The poem's single continuous stanza reflects the steady, uninterrupted nature of the jewellery maker's work. It evokes a sense of calm and rhythm, emphasising the daily consistency and dedication required for his craft.

Tone

• Respectful and Celebratory: The tone is one of admiration for the jewellery maker's skill and dedication. The poem's detailed descriptions of his work and the artistry involved convey a deep respect for his craft.
• Reflective and Contemplative: The jewellery maker's imagination and thoughts about the women who will wear his jewellery introduce a reflective tone. This adds depth to the poem, inviting readers to consider the unseen efforts that go into creating beautiful objects and the distance between the maker and the wearer.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In The Jewellery Maker, Louisa Adjoa Parker celebrates the meticulous craft of the jewellery maker, who follows a family tradition passed down through generations. The simile "lays out pointed tools the way a surgeon might" emphasises the precision required in his work, comparing it to the care and skill of a medical professional. Similarly, in A Century Later…